Personal computer data storage card and adapter and method for transferring information between the data storage card and personal computers

ABSTRACT

A personal computer data storage card includes a substrate layer, a magnetic medium layer, and a protective layer respectively affixed together. The data storage card is typically placed within an adapter and inserted into a personal computer floppy disk drive wherein the adapter includes dimensions compatible with the floppy disk drive to permit the data storage card to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the data storage card. During rotation of the data storage card within the floppy disk drive, the data storage card traverses floppy disk drive read/write heads for information storage and retrieval. Paper may be utilized as the protective layer of the data storage card and include text or graphics to have the data storage card simultaneously function as both a data storage device and a business card or other advertisement media. Further, the data storage card may be of any shape permitting rotation of the data storage card within the adapter, and may include an additional magnetic medium layer and protective layer to provide a storage capacity substantially similar to that of standard floppy disks.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/544,950, entitled "Personal Computer Data Storage Card and Method ForTransferring Information Between the Data Storage Card and PersonalComputers", filed on Oct. 18, 1995,now U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,757.Thedisclosure in that application is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reading andwriting information on a stand alone magnetic card or disk typicallyadapted for use in standard three and one-half inch computer floppy diskdrives. In particular, the present invention is an improvement of themagnetic cards or disks disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,618 (Raviv),U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,099 (Smith) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,570 (Kowalski),the disclosure from each of which is expressly incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

2. Discussion of Prior Art

Magnetic storage and retrieval systems using substantially circularrotatable magnetic disks are well known in the art and commonly usedwith modern personal computers. Such personal computers typicallyinclude floppy disk drives utilizing standard three and one-half inchfloppy disks and/or five and one-quarter inch floppy disks. The standardthree and one-half inch floppy disk is prevalent over the standard fiveand one-quarter inch floppy disk due to its smaller size and largerstorage capacity. Both types of disks are typically housed in a rigid orsemi-rigid outer shell functionally necessary to permit the floppy diskto rotate within the floppy disk drive of a computer and traverseread/write heads for data storage and retrieval.

Various types of storage media known in the art include magnetic stripsor limited sections of magnetic media detachably affixed to cards ofvarying size and material. Such cards typically include credit cards,passkeys, and paper or cardstock fare cards with various devicesavailable to read such cards. Specifically, Raviv (4,774,618) disclosesa business card containing a detachable magnetic strip for storinginformation retrievable by a floppy disk drive of a personal computer.The magnetic strip may be detached from the business card and placed ina carrier for insertion into a floppy disk drive of a computer forinformation storage and retrieval. Alternatively, the entire businesscard may be placed in the carrier and inserted into a floppy disk driveof a computer for information storage and retrieval.

Smith (5,107,099) discloses a magnetic card reader where a credit cardsized memory card contains a plastic base and a magnetic layer capableof magnetic recording and playback. An apparatus for reading and writingthe credit card sized memory card contains a rotatable disk with anopening for the card whereby the card is inserted in the opening of thedisk to be rotated with the disk to pass read/write heads for datamanipulation.

Kowalski (4,297,570) discloses a strip for magnetically receivinginformation bonded to a paper substrate.

The prior art suffers from several disadvantages. Floppy disks typicallyhave cumbersome and limiting physical characteristics requiring specificsize and dimensions in order to be operable in the correspondingcomputer floppy disk drive. Further, a disk or group of disks with arigid or semi-rigid outer shell are cumbersome if carried in a pocket orwallet, and have substantial weight thereby increasing the costs andburden of delivering, shipping or mailing the disks. Paper or plasticcards with a fixed magnetic medium have a storage capacity of a fractionof the capacity of a standard floppy disk (three and one-half inch orfive and one-quarter inch disks) since large quantities of surface areaof the paper or plastic cards do not contain fixed magnetic media andtherefore cannot be utilized for storage. Further, the cards are unableto rotate in a standard three and one-half inch floppy disk drive,thereby impeding the potential of such cards for use in standardcomputer floppy disk drives.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data from astandard three and one-half inch floppy disk drive.

It is another object of the present invention to increase the storagecapacity of stand alone magnetic cards or disks while enabling the cardsor disks to be compatible with standard three and one-half inch floppydisk drives.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter toenable stand alone magnetic cards or disks to rotate within a standardthree and one-half inch floppy disk drive in order to traverseread/write heads for data storage and retrieval.

Still another object of the present invention is to enable stand alonemagnetic cards or disks to be of varying shapes capable of rotationwithin the standard three and one-half inch floppy disk drive forinformation storage and retrieval.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved floppy disk drive for direct insertion of a stand alonemagnetic card or disk into the floppy disk drive of a computer forinformation storage and retrieval.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method ofcontrolling the read/write heads of a standard three and one-half inchfloppy disk drive to accommodate the varying rotational patterns of thediffering shapes of stand alone magnetic cards or disks.

The aforesaid objects are achieved individually and in combination, andit is not intended that the present invention be construed as requiringtwo or more of the objects to be combined unless expressly required bythe claims attached hereto.

According to the present invention, a method and apparatus for readingand writing information on a stand alone magnetic card or disk isaccomplished by a stand alone plastic or paper card or disk containing amagnetic medium. The card or disk includes a magnetic medium on eitherone or both sides of the card or disk covering substantially the entiresurface area of the respective side. The card or disk is typicallyarranged in varying layer configurations including the fundamental cardor disk structure (typically a paper or cardstock substrate, or aplastic or synthetic based material), one or more magnetic medium layerssubstantially similar in size to the card or disk structure andsubstantially covering the surface area of the card or disk structure,and one or more bonded protective layers (typically thermoplastic, paperor paper/synthetic composite material) to cover the magnetic medium. Thecards or disks may be of varying shapes including polygonal, ellipticalor oval, circular, rounded as well as non-symmetrical shapes. The cardor disk is placed in an adapter either subsequently inserted into orpermanently disposed within a floppy disk drive wherein the card or diskis engaged frictionally or mechanically by the adapter such that torquefrom the floppy disk drive is transferred to the adapter causing thecard or disk to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the plane of thecard and have the magnetic medium traverse read/write heads forinformation storage and retrieval. In response to the initialpositioning of the card within the floppy disk drive of a computer, acode for a disk format pre-stored on the card or disk is read andprocessed by the computer in order to determine the proper control forthe read/write heads during rotation of the card or disk based upon theshape of the card or disk.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof,particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized todesignate like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top view in plan of a stand alone magnetic card or disksuitable for use in an adapter frictionally engaging the card or diskaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a top view in plan of a stand alone magnetic card or disksuitable for use in an adapter mechanically engaging the card or diskaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 1C, 1D, 1E are top views in perspective of respective differentlyshaped stand alone magnetic cards or disks according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of a single-sided stand alonemagnetic card or disk according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of a double sided stand alonemagnetic card or disk having two layers of a magnetic medium accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of an adapter mechanically engaging astand alone magnetic card or disk to enable operation in a floppy diskdrive according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation and partial section of a base of theadapter of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view in section of a ball bearing disposed at the end of apin extending from the adapter of FIG. 4 to improve rotation of thestand alone magnetic card or disk according to the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a side view in elevation and partial section of a cover of anadapter frictionally engaging a stand alone magnetic card or diskaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a side view in elevation and partial section of a base of anadapter frictionally engaging a stand alone magnetic card or diskaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7C is a top view in plan of the base of the adapter of FIG. 7Bhaving a circular plate beneath a friction gasket including asubstantially centrally disposed pin according to the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a top view in plan of an adapter mechanically engaging astand alone magnetic card or disk including a drawer for insertion andremoval of the card or disk into and out of the adapter according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 8B is a side view in elevation and partial section of the adapterof FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C is a side view in elevation of the drawer opening in the adapterof FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8D is a side view in elevation and partial section of a stand alonemagnetic card or disk inserted within the adapter of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is a procedural flow chart for controlling the read/write headsof a floppy disk drive based upon the shape of a stand alone magneticcard or disk according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and 2 illustrate respective exemplarembodiments of the personal computer data card or disk of the presentinvention. Specifically, a single-sided stand alone magnetic card ordisk 23 includes either single opening 17 disposed substantially at thecenter of card or disk 23 or dual openings 17 equally spaced from thecenter of card or disk 23 a short distance approximately equal to 0.2inches, and magnetic medium layer 2 (typically high density andcompatible with the standard three and one half inch floppy disk drive)disposed between a protective layer 3 (typically thermoplastic, paper orpaper/synthetic composite) and a paper, cardstock or plasticsubstrate 1. A protective layer 3 of thermoplastic is typically affixedto magnetic medium layer 2 by use of high heat and pressure while aprotective layer 3 of paper or a paper/synthetic composite is typicallyaffixed to magnetic medium layer 2 by use of heat and a thermoplasticbonding agent. Magnetic medium layer 2 is substantially similar in sizeand covers substantially all of the surface area of an adjacent surfaceof paper, cardstock or plastic substrate 1 with an approximate storagecapacity of 0.75 megabytes. Data stored on magnetic medium layer 2 istypically encoded through magnetization and arrangement of magnetizablemolecules wherein a protective layer 3 of sufficiently thin neutralmaterial (i.e. plastic, paper or plastic paper hybrid) does notinterfere with such encoding or subsequent decoding of the data.Moreover, a protective layer 3 including paper is advantageous as textand/or graphics may be placed on the paper to thereby utilize card ordisk 23 simultaneously as both a data storage device and a business cardor other type of advertisement media. Single or dual openings 17 enablecard or disk 23 to be aligned and rotated within an adapter eithersubsequently inserted into or permanently disposed within a standardfloppy disk drive in order to traverse read/write heads of the floppydisk drive for manipulation of the information stored on the magneticmedium as described below. Further, card or disk 23 may be of any shape(FIGS. 1C, 1D, 1E) allowing for rotation of card or disk 23 insubstantially the same area as required for disks compatible with thestandard three and one-half inch floppy disk drive. Varying shapes ofcard or disk 23 may include polygonal, elliptical or oval, circular,rounded as well as non-symmetrical shapes.

A double sided stand alone magnetic card or disk substantially similarto the single sided stand alone magnetic card or disk configurationsdescribed above but providing for greater storage capacity isillustrated in FIG. 3. Specifically, paper or plastic substrate 1 isdisposed between two layers of magnetic medium 2 typically of highdensity and compatible with the standard three and one half inch floppydisk drive. The two layers of magnetic medium 2 in combination enablecard or disk 23 to have a storage capacity of approximately 1.44megabytes and be substantially similar to the storage capacity of thestandard three and one-half inch floppy disk. Each layer of magneticmedium 2 is substantially similar in size and covers substantially allof the surface area of the respective adjacent surface of plastic orpaper substrate 1. Further, each layer of magnetic medium 2 is adjacenta protective layer 3 typically including paper, thermoplastic or apaper/synthetic composite. Protective layer 3 may be bonded to eachlayer of magnetic medium 2 by high temperature and pressure. The doublesided stand alone magnetic card or disk 23 may utilize paper asprotective layer 3 and therefore provide for text and/or graphics onrespective opposite sides of card or disk 23 to simultaneously functionas both a data storage device and a business card or other advertisementmedia.

In order to retrieve or store information, the stand alone magnetic cardor disk is typically placed in an adapter mechanically engaging thestand alone magnetic card or disk for insertion into the standard threeand one half inch floppy disk drive as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6.Specifically, adapter 30 enables card or disk 23 to rotate freely withinadapter 30 subsequent to insertion into a three and one half inch floppydisk drive thereby enabling read/write heads of the floppy disk drive toretrieve data from and store data on magnetic medium 2 of card or disk23 (FIGS. 2-3). Adapter 30 typically includes outer shell 5substantially similar in dimension to a standard three and one-half inchfloppy disk, and torque transfer device 9 for transferring the rotarymotion of the floppy disk drive to adapter 30 for rotation of card ordisk 23. Outer shell 5 typically includes cover 5a and base 5bsubstantially similar in size, preferably rectangular, and typicallymade of plastic or metal. Cover 5a and base 5b are pivotably attached toeach other along respective adjacent edges by hinge 8 such that cover 5aand base 5b are selectively pivotable to an open or closed position tofacilitate insertion and removal of card or disk 23 within adapter 30.Adapter 30 is typically maintained in a closed position, for insertioninto a floppy disk drive, by lid clasp 28 substantially centrallydisposed at the edge of cover 5a opposite hinge 8. Cover 5a and base 5bare each partially cut away to define a contoured corner 6 disposedadjacent hinge 8 to assure proper orientation of adapter 30 uponinsertion into a floppy disk drive. Write protect lock 7 is mountedproximate a corner of base 5b diagonally opposite contoured corner 6 andprotects data stored on card or disk 23 from being overwritten wherein aselectively slidable switch enables or disables the protection. Writeprotect lock 7 is substantially similar to write protect devices onstandard three and one-half inch floppy disks.

A torque transfer device 9 is mounted in a circular mounting hole oropening 10 defined through base 5b substantially at the base center. Thefunction of torque transfer device 9 is to apply a rotary force from thefloppy disk drive to adapter 30 for rotation of card or disk 23.Specifically, torque transfer device 9 is substantially cylindrical inshape and includes an interior circular end plate 11a and an exteriorfrusto-conical plate 11b forming respective opposite ends of the torquetransfer device. The diameters of interior plate 11a and the largersurface of plate 11b are larger than the diameter of mounting hole oropening 10 in base 5b to assure that torque transfer device 9 isretained in the base. The axial length between facing surfaces of plates11a and 11b is slightly greater than the thickness of base 5b, and thediameter of torque transfer device 9 intermediate the end plates is lessthan the diameter of mounting hole or opening 10, thereby assuring thattorque transfer device 9 and plates 11a, 11b are free to rotate relativeto base 5b. Exterior plate 11b has slots 12 defined in its exteriorlyfacing surface where the floppy disk drive engages plate 11b to apply adriving rotary force causing torque transfer device 9 to rotate. Card ordisk 23 is typically placed on the interior facing surface of interiorplate 11a and therefore rotates in conjunction with plate 11a. As cardor disk 23 rotates, read/write heads of the floppy disk drive mayselectively access the magnetic medium (typically high density) of cardor disk 23 via a window 24, typically rectangular, defined in cover 5aadjacent hinge 8 to expose the magnetic medium of card or disk 23. Base5b may also contain a window 24 as described above for an adapteraccommodating a double sided stand alone magnetic card or disk in orderto expose both magnetic medium layers (FIG. 3) of the double sided standalone magnetic card or disk to read/write heads of the floppy diskdrive.

Interior circular plate 11a typically is provided with a grippingarrangement permitting card 23 to be aligned with and secured to plate11a, enabling the card to rotate with torque transfer device 9.Specifically, torque transfer device 9 includes dual retractable pins 14equally spaced from the center of plate 11a by a short distance ofapproximately 0.2 inches and extending from respective platforms 34disposed between plates 11a, 11b. Each platform 34 includes spring 15extending from exterior plate 11b to platform 34 in order to providetension and resiliency for enabling pins 14 to retract. Upon movingcover 5a and base 5b to a closed position, pins 14 contact spin plate 16substantially centrally disposed in cover 5a. Spin plate 16 may be madeof a durable smooth material such as metal or hard plastic. Pins 14typically slightly retract upon contact with spin plate 16 causingtension from spring 15 to maintain pins 14 in constant contact with spinplate 16. Pins 14 are typically disposed through openings 17 of card ordisk 23 (FIG. 1B) and upon moving cover 5a and base 5b to the closedposition, card or disk 23 is properly aligned and secured within adapter30 such that in response to insertion of adapter 30 into a floppy diskdrive, card or disk 23 rotates in conjunction with the application ofthe rotary force from the floppy disk drive as described above withoutbecoming detached from plate 11a.

In order to enhance rotation of card or disk 23, small bearing 18,typically a ball-bearing, may be disposed in each pin 14. Specifically,each pin 14 includes an open ended tip having a substantially circularopening with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of thelargest circular cross-section of bearing 18 such that bearing 18 ispartially retained within the open ended tip of pin 14. Spring 35 isdisposed within pin 14 extending from platform 34 to bearing 18 in orderto secure bearing 18 against the edges of the substantially circularopening of the open ended tip of pin 14. Upon closing and subsequentinsertion of adapter 30 into a floppy disk drive, respective bearings 18of pins 14 rotatably contact and circularly traverse spin plate 16during rotation of card or disk 23 thereby reducing friction betweenpins 14 and spin plate 16 to provide for a smoother rotational movementof card or disk 23.

Alternatively, FIGS. 1A, 7A, 7B, 7C illustrate an adapter with africtional engagement of a stand alone magnetic card or disksubstantially similar to the adapter mechanically engaging the standalone magnetic card or disk as described above. Specifically, card ordisk 23 includes a single opening 17 substantially centrally disposedthrough card or disk 23 for use with adapter 30. Adapter 30 issubstantially similar to the adapter mechanically engaging the standalone magnetic card or disk (FIG. 4) and typically includes outer shell5 and torque transfer device 9 as described above except that torquetransfer device 9 has a single pin 21 disposed substantially at thecenter of plate 11a extending from platform 34. Torque transfer device 9is disposed through circular mounting hole or opening 10 atsubstantially the center of base 5b in substantially the same manner asdescribed above. Cover friction device 32 is mounted substantiallysimilar to torque transfer device 9 in circular mounting hole or opening33 defined through cover 5a substantially at the cover center. Coverfriction device 32 is substantially cylindrical in shape and includesrespective exterior and interior circular end plates 11c, 11d formingrespective opposite ends of the cover friction device. The diameters ofplates 11c, 11d are larger than the diameter of mounting hole or opening33 in cover 5a to assure that cover friction device 32 is retained inthe cover. The axial length between facing surfaces of plates 11c and11d is slightly greater than the thickness of cover 5a, and the diameterof cover friction device 32 intermediate the end plates 11c, 11d is lessthan the diameter of mounting hole or opening 33, thereby assuring thatcover friction device 32 and plates 11c, 11d are free to rotate relativeto cover 5a. Cover friction device 32 further includes indentation 22disposed substantially at the center of cover friction device 32 forreception of pin 21 when cover 5a and base 5b are moved to a closedposition as described below. Friction gaskets 20 are affixed to theinterior facing surface of respective interior circular plates 11a, 11dand are typically composed of a tacky or gummy rubber material providingsufficient frictional force to prevent slippage between plate 11a andcard or disk 23 during rotation as described above.

Torque transfer device 9 includes retractable pin 21 disposed onplatform 34 residing between end plates 11a, 11b with spring 15extending from exterior plate 11b to platform 34 in order to providetension and resiliency to enable pin 21 to slightly retract insubstantially the same manner as pins 14 (FIG. 5) as described above.Card or disk 23 is typically placed on an interior facing surface offriction gasket 20 affixed to interior plate 11a subsequent to movingcover 5a and base 5b to an open position with pin 21 disposed throughopening 17 of card or disk 23 to align card or disk 23 during subsequentrotation. Upon moving cover 5a and base 5b to a closed position, pin 21is received in indentation 22 and card or disk 23 is engaged byrespective friction gaskets 20 of interior plates 11a, 11d to preventcard or disk 23 from slipping or becoming detached from interior plate11a during subsequent rotation. In response to insertion of adapter 30into a floppy disk drive, the floppy disk drive engages exterior plate11b via slots 12 to apply a driving rotary force to rotate torquetransfer device 9 as described above. The rotation of torque transferdevice 9 causes card or disk 23 to rotate based on friction gaskets 20providing sufficient frictional force to transfer the driving rotaryforce from interior plate 11a to card or disk 23. The driving rotaryforce is transferred from torque transfer device 9 through card or disk23 and friction gaskets 20 of respective interior plates 11a, 11d tocover friction device 32 thereby causing torque transfer device 9, coverfriction device 32, and card or disk 23 to rotate while pin 21 andfriction gaskets 20 respectively align and synchronize the rotation ofcard or disk 23 with the rotation of interior plate 11a. Card or disk 23is subsequently rotated to traverse read/write heads of the floppy diskdrive for information storage and retrieval with access to the magneticmedium of card or disk 23 via window 24 (FIG. 4) as described above.

FIGS. 1B, 5, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D illustrate an adapter substantially similarto the adapter mechanically engaging a stand alone magnetic card or diskas described above but implementing an alternative technique forinserting and removing the stand alone magnetic card or disk into andout of the adapter. Specifically, adapter 30 is substantially similar tothe adapter mechanically engaging a stand alone magnetic card or disk(FIG. 4) but typically includes a hollow outer shell 5, preferablyrectangular and typically made of plastic or metal, having dimensionssubstantially similar to the standard three and one half inch floppydisk and utilizing a sliding drawer 25 to insert and remove card or disk23 (typically having dual openings 17) into and out of adapter 30. Outershell 5 typically includes exterior surfaces 5a, 5b separated by aslight axial distance substantially similar to the thickness of astandard three and one-half inch floppy disk and is partially cut awayto define a contoured corner 6 for providing proper orientation ofadapter 30 upon insertion into a floppy disk drive. Write protect lock 7protects data on card or disk 23 from being overwritten as describedabove and is disposed on exterior surface 5a proximate a cornerdiagonally opposite contoured corner 6. Drawer 25 is typicallyrectangular in shape with dimensions slightly smaller than outer shell 5such that substantially all of drawer 25 fits inside outer shell 5.Drawer 25 is inserted into and removed from adapter 30 via opening 31typically disposed between exterior surfaces 5a, 5b and adjacent writeprotect lock 7. Drawer 25 and exterior surface 5a each contain a window24, typically rectangular, disposed toward the side opposite opening 31and adjacent contoured corner 6 to enable read/write heads of a floppydisk drive to access the magnetic medium on card or disk 23 as describedabove. Exterior surface 5b may also contain a window 24 as describedabove for an adapter accommodating a double sided stand alone magneticcard or disk in order to expose both magnetic medium layers (FIG. 3) ofthe double sided stand alone magnetic card or disk to read/write headsof the floppy disk drive. Drawer 25 further includes spring lever 27disposed adjacent window 24 toward the corner opposite contoured corner6 for applying respective opposing and coincident forces to drawer 25 inorder to facilitate smooth lateral movement of drawer 25 into and out ofadapter 30. Latch 28 is disposed on an edge of drawer 25 directly acrossfrom window 24 to maintain drawer 25 within adapter 30. Torque transferdevice 9 is substantially similar to, and is disposed in adapter 30through mounting hole or opening 10 disposed substantially at the centerof exterior surface 5b in substantially the same manner as, the adaptermechanically engaging a stand alone magnetic card or disk (FIG. 4) asdescribed above.

Card or disk 23 is typically placed on drawer 25 and laterally slid intoadapter 30 for subsequent insertion into a floppy disk drive. Duringinsertion of drawer 25 into adapter 30, pins 14 typically retract inresponse to contact with drawer 25 thereby enabling drawer 25 and cardor disk 23 to be laterally slid, without interference by pins 14, intoposition over torque transfer device 9 with pins 14 maintaining constantcontact with card or disk 23 via springs 15 as described above. Uponinsertion of adapter 30 into a floppy disk drive, torque transfer device9 engages a driving rotary force from the floppy disk drive to rotateitself and card or disk 23 as described above. Since the orientation oftorque transfer device 9 is unknown during insertion of drawer 25 andcard or disk 23 into adapter 30, pins 14 may not be initially disposedthrough dual openings 17 in card or disk 23 when drawer 25 and card ordisk 23 are positioned over torque transfer device 9. However, as torquetransfer device 9 initially rotates, pins 14 circularly traverse theapproximate center area of card or disk 23 and dual openings 17. Upontraversal of dual openings 17 by pins 14, springs 15 force pins 14through dual openings 17 thereby securing and aligning card or disk 23to torque transfer device 9 for subsequent rotation as described above.In response to a withdrawal force applied to drawer 25 subsequent to theremoval of adapter 30 from the floppy disk drive, pins 14 retract fromdual openings 17 in order to enable drawer 25 to be laterally slid outof adapter 30 without interference by pins 14.

The aforementioned adapters or specific components of the adapters maybe permanently disposed within a floppy disk drive to create a new andimproved floppy disk drive. The new floppy disk drive enables directinsertion of the stand alone magnetic card or disk into the floppy diskdrive of a computer for information storage and retrieval. For example,the adapter implementing a sliding drawer (FIG. 8A) may be permanentlydisposed in a floppy disk drive of a computer such that the drawer ismaneuverable into and out of the floppy disk drive. The stand alonemagnetic card or disk is placed on the drawer and slid into and out ofthe floppy disk drive for information storage and retrieval insubstantially the same manner as described above. Further, theaforementioned adapters or specific components of the adapters may bepermanently disposed in the floppy disk drive in any manner toeffectuate direct insertion of the stand alone magnetic card or diskinto the floppy disk drive. The floppy disk drive and permanentlydisposed adapter implement information storage and retrieval insubstantially the same manner as described above for the respectiveadapters.

Since the stand alone magnetic card or disk may include varying shapes,read/write heads of the standard three and one half inch floppy diskdrive require special control as the varying card or disk shapestypically produce odd tracking patterns when rotated in an adaptereither subsequently inserted into or permanently disposed within afloppy disk drive as described above. FIGS. 1C, 1D, 1E, 9 illustrate aprocedure for controlling the read/write heads by a computer based onpre-stored information residing on the stand alone magnetic card ordisk. Specifically, card or disk 23 is typically formatted according toits shape and such formatting and subsequent address locations arepredetermined and recognized by the computer via software. Initially,control software for the read/write heads is loaded into memory(typically RAM). The computer, via the control software, examines a diskresiding in the three and one-half inch floppy disk drive (typicallydrive A or B depending upon the particular configuration of thecomputer) by rotating the drive mechanism of the floppy disk drive toscan the disk for a code indicating that the inserted disk is a personalcomputer data card or disk (i.e., card or disk 23) of a varying shape.If the special code is not present, a message is displayed indicatingthe disk is not a personal computer data card or disk. If a special codeis present, the disk is a personal computer data card or disk (i.e.,card or disk 23) and is subsequently rotated to the next address whereshape and format information for the personal computer data card or diskresides. Based on the shape and format data, a specialized individualsoftware routine corresponding to the shape of the card or disk isaccessed from among a plurality of software routines where each softwareroutine corresponds to a particular shape of the card or disk. Theaccessed software routine controls, via computer, rotation of thepersonal computer data card or disk and position of the read/write headsto ensure proper tracking and addressing for information storage andretrieval. Upon retrieving data from the personal computer data card ordisk, the data is examined to determine whether or not the data has beenencoded. Encoded data retrieved from the personal computer data card ordisk is subsequently decoded and loaded into the computer memory whereasnon-encoded data is typically ignored with the personal computer datacard or disk being rotated to a succeeding address for subsequent dataretrieval.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above andillustrated in the drawings represent only a few of the many ways ofimplementing the personal computer data card or disk and correspondingadapter.

The shape of the personal computer data card or disk may be any shapecapable of rotation within dimensions of a standard three and one-halfinch floppy disk, its protective layer may be paper, paper/syntheticcomposite, thermoplastic or any other material capable of protecting andallowing access to magnetic media, and its magnetic medium may be anymagnetic medium (high or low density) capable of being read or writtenby floppy disk drives of computers. The personal computer data card ordisk may include a paper, plastic, cardstock or other suitably rigid orsemi-rigid substrate.

The adapter hinge may be placed on any side of the outer shell to openthe adapter in any desired position, and may utilize any device ormethod capable of securing and rotating the card or disk within theadapter when inserted into a floppy disk drive including but not limitedto additional openings in the card or disk, and securing the card ordisk about its perimeter within the adapter. The adapter may utilize anydevice or material capable of supplying a resilient force to enableretraction of the pins, and may include any type of bearing, roller orother device capable of improving rotation of cards or disks within theadapter, and may further include any number of windows in varying shapescapable of exposing the personal computer data card or disk toread/write heads of a floppy disk drive.

The friction gaskets may include any tacky or gummy rubber material andany other material capable of securing the card or disk within theadapter.

The drawer of the adapter may freely slide into the adapter from anyside and in any lateral direction with respect to the adapter. Further,the drawer may be secured within the adapter from any side.

The control software may be implemented in any high or low levelcomputer language or by any hardware capable of controlling theread/write heads.

The personal computer data card or disk and adapter may be utilized inany system having the standard three and one-half inch floppy drive.Further, the present invention may be applied for use with various typesof floppy or other disk drives in the same manner as described above.

The adapters or specific components of the adapters may be permanentlydisposed in a floppy disk drive of a computer in any manner capable ofenabling direct insertion of the personal computer data card or diskinto the floppy disk drive for information storage and retrieval.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the inventionmakes available a novel method and apparatus for reading and writinginformation on a stand alone magnetic card or disk wherein a magneticcard or disk is inserted into an adapter either subsequently insertedinto or permanently disposed within a floppy disk drive of a personalcomputer for information storage and retrieval.

Having described preferred embodiments of a new and improved method andapparatus for reading and writing information on a stand alone magneticcard or disk, it is believed that other modifications, variations andchanges will be suggested to those skilled in the art in view of theteachings set forth herein. It is therefore to be understood that allsuch variations, modifications and changes are believed to fall withinthe scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adapter for receiving a stand alone magneticdata card and subsequently being inserted into a floppy disk drive toenable said floppy disk drive to perform data operations on said cardcomprising:an outer shell having dimensions compatible with said floppydisk drive and at least one window for exposing said card to read/writeheads of said floppy disk drive; insertion means for enabling said cardto be inserted into and withdrawn from said outer shell; rotation meansdisposed within said outer shell for rotating said card about an axisperpendicular to the plane of said card within said outer shell;securing means for affixing said card to said rotation means; andalignment means for maintaining alignment of said card during rotationby said rotation means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said adapteris permanently disposed in said floppy disk drive such that said card isdirectly inserted into said floppy disk drive to enable said disk driveto perform said data operations via said adapter.
 3. The adapter ofclaim 1 wherein said insertion means includes a drawer for holding saidcard and selectively moving said card laterally into and out of saidouter shell; andwherein said drawer includes a window for exposing saidcard to read/write heads of said floppy disk drive.
 4. The adapter ofclaim 1 wherein said outer shell includes a first and second member andsaid insertion means includes a hinge connecting said first and secondmembers such that said card is inserted and removed from said outershell in response to said members being pivoted about said hinge.
 5. Theadapter of claim 4 wherein said securing means includes friction gasketsaffixed to said first and second members of said outer shell such thatsaid card is disposed between said gaskets on said rotation means. 6.The adapter of claim 5 wherein said card includes an opening and saidalignment means includes a pin extending from said rotation means anddisposed through said opening in said card.
 7. The adapter of claim 4wherein said card includes dual openings disposed through said card andsaid securing and alignment means includes dual pins extending from saidrotation means and disposed within said corresponding dual openingsdisposed through said card.
 8. A method for utilizing personal computerdata cards as storage media for use in a floppy disk drive of acomputer, said method comprising the steps of:(a) inserting said cardinto an adapter having dimensions compatible to be received in saidfloppy disk drive; (b) inserting said adapter and inserted card into thecompatible floppy disk drive of said computer; (c) rotating saidinserted card about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said insertedcard within said adapter such that said inserted card traversesread/write heads of said floppy disk drive; (d) securing and aligningsaid inserted card within said adapter during said rotation; (e) readingand writing said inserted card by said read/write heads of said floppydisk drive; (f) removing said adapter from said disk drive; and (g)removing said inserted card from said adapter.
 9. The method of claim 8wherein said adapter includes a drawer and step (a) includes placingsaid card in said drawer of said adapter and sliding said drawer intosaid adapter; andstep (g) includes sliding said drawer out of saidadapter and removing said inserted card from said drawer.
 10. The methodof claim 8 wherein said adapter includes a first and second memberattached by a hinge and step (a) includes opening said adapter by movingsaid first and second members apart via said hinge and placing said cardin said adapter, and closing said adapter by moving said first andsecond members together; andstep (g) includes opening said adapter byseparating said first and second members via said hinge and removingsaid inserted card.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said adapterincludes friction gaskets disposed in said first and second members andstep (a) includes placing said card between said friction gaskets suchthat said friction gaskets engage said card upon closing said adapter;andstep (d) includes said friction gaskets securing said inserted cardduring rotation.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said card includesan opening, wherein said adapter includes a pin extending from saidsecond member, and step (a) includes placing said card such that saidpin extending from said second member is disposed through said openingin said card; andstep (d) includes said pin aligning said inserted cardwith said rotation means during rotation.
 13. The method of claim 10wherein said card includes a pair of openings, wherein said adapterincludes a first and second member where a pair of pins extend from saidsecond member, and step (a) includes placing said card such that saidpair of pins extending from said second member are disposed through saidpair of openings in said card; andstep (d) includes said pair of pinssecuring and aligning said inserted card with said rotation means duringrotation.
 14. The method of claim 8 wherein step (c) further includesthe steps of:(c.1) rotating said inserted card to a first location toread a code indicating whether or not a personal computer data card ispresent; (c.2) in response to an absence of the code indicating anabsence of a personal computer data card, displaying a messageindicating the personal computer data card is not present; (c.3) inresponse to a code indicating the presence of the personal computer datacard, rotating said inserted card to a second location to read dataindicating the shape and format of the inserted card; and (c.4) inresponse to data indicating the shape and format of the inserted card,controlling the read/write heads by the computer, via software control,to properly track said inserted card during said rotation.
 15. A methodfor utilizing personal computer data cards as storage media for use in afloppy disk drive of a computer, said method comprising the steps of:(a)inserting said card into an adapter permanently disposed in said floppydisk drive and having dimensions compatible with said floppy disk drive;(b) rotating said inserted card about an axis perpendicular to the planeof said inserted card within said adapter such that said inserted cardtraverses read/write heads of said floppy disk drive; (c) securing andaligning said inserted card within said adapter during said rotation;(d) reading and writing said inserted card by said read/write heads ofsaid floppy disk drive; and (e) removing said inserted card from saidadapter within said disk drive.
 16. A method for controlling read/writeheads of a floppy disk drive of a computer for accessing personalcomputer data cards comprising the steps of:(a) inserting a disk intosaid floppy disk drive; (b) rotating said disk to a first location toread a code indicating whether or not said disk is a personal computerdata card; (c) in response to an absence of the code indicating anabsence of said personal computer data card, displaying a messageindicating said disk is not a personal computer data card; (d) inresponse to the code indicating said disk is said personal computer datacard, rotating said disk to a second location to read data indicatingthe shape and format of the disk; and (e) in response to data indicatingthe shape and format of the disk, controlling the read/write heads bythe computer, via software control, to properly track said disk duringrotation.
 17. The method of claim 16 further including the step of:(f)in response to retrieving encoded data from said disk being saidpersonal computer data card, decoding said encoded data and storing saiddecoded data in a memory of said computer.
 18. The method of claim 17further including the step of:(g) in response to retrieving non-encodeddata from said disk being said personal computer data card, ignoringsaid non-encoded data and retrieving data from a next address on saiddisk.